Ballast-dressing machine



oid. 9,1923. v 1,470,058 S. F. CLAF'P BALLAST DRES S ING MACHINE Filed Aug. 4. 1922 6 Sheets-15h66?,l 1

lllllmll A TTR/VEYS l Oct. 9, 1923.

s. F'. CLAPP BALLAST DRESSING MACHINE Fileq Aug. 4, 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 M. um

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS oct. 9, 1923. l 1,470,058

Y S. F. CLAPP' BALLAST DRESSING MACHINE v Filed Aug. 4, -19252 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 (WEA/Tof? S. F. Clapp,

Oct.` 9, 1923.- 1,470,058

, s. F. CLAPP BALLAST DRESSING MACHINE Filed Aug. 4. 1922 @Sheets-Sheet 4 A n A Slfla'pp,

Ano/mm l oct. 9, 1923. A1,470,058

s. F. CLAPP l BALLAST DRESSING MACHINE Filed Aug. 4, 1922 6 sheets-Sheet 6 I WMMH f WIT/VESSES Si?, C'ap'p,

A TTOHNEYS Patented Uct. 9, 1923.

UNITED 'STTES soLoN FRANCIS CLAPP, 0E TEMPLE, TEXAS.

BALLAsT-nnnssine MACHINE. i .f

Appiieaiion med August 24, i922. semina 579.678.

T 0 all whom` t 'may concern."

Be it known that I, SoLoN F. CLAPP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Temple, in the county of Bell, State of Texas', have invented ceitain new and useful` Improvements in Ballast- Dressing Wachines, of which the following is a specification. f

This'inventionY relates to a ballast dressing machine or apparatus for railroads.l

The usual manner of ballasting a railroad is to dump between the rails theballast desired and then level `the ballast and spread the same upon either side ofthe Arails by the use of hand shovels. The task of spreading and levelling the ballast requires a great number of laborers and consequently a great expense,

An object of the present inventionis'to provide a machine or apparatus in 'which the spreadingand levelling of ballast may be accomplished in a highly eiiicient and rapid manner and`with a minimumy of labor.

It is also an object of the invention that the machine or apparatus be adapted to move upon the rails of the railroad being operated upon.

A further object of the'invention is that the machine or apparatus be adapted to operate for dressing 'the ballast with one movement over tlierailroad rails.'l

It is a still further objectof the invention that the machineor apparatus operate to clean the rails and top surfaces of the ties duringV the operation of spreading and levelling the ballast. l Y

It is also an important 'object of the'i'nvention that they machine or lapparatus be adapted to operate upon a curve withjequal efficiency. A

It is also an object of the invention that the apparatus be adapted to'be quickly and easily assembled or loaded for moving vthe same to a distant point for different operations.

@ther objects, and objects relating to detail of construction, combination and arrangement of parts will hereinafter appear in the detailed description to follow.

1 The invention' is illustrated by way of example'in the' accompanying drawings, in

the present invention,

Figure 2 isa top plan View of the turntable employed with theapparatus,

Figure` 'Sis a transverse vertical sectional view of the turntable and also showing in side elevation a portion of the as rick supported thereby,

sociated dere"- Figure lis adetail sectional view'more clearly illustrating the manner in which the turntable'fis rotated,

Figure 5 is atop plan view of the forwar portion of the `macliine .or apparatus f and particularly illustrating the ballast spreading and evener unit,

Figure 6 is a front elevation of. the spreader andevener unit,

Figure'T-is a central vertical sectional view of the forward portion of the apparatus also showing in dotted lines the positionof the spreader and evener unit when loaded for moving the apparatus, Y

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the sweeper unit employed in 'the'apparatus,

Figure 9 -is aview in rear elevation of the same and also illustrating the manner in which this unit operates upon the rails and ties of Va railroad over which the' apparatus; may be passing, y

Figure 10 isa front elevation of one side of the sweeper vunit and particularly illustrating 'thefmanner inV which'the sweeping elements are heldin position, and

" Figure 1l *isl a sectional A'view taken substantially on the line 11-11 of Figure 10Q Like reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings more particularly themachine or apparatusy may briefly consist offa car generally indicated by the reference character R; cab'C; a leveller and scraper unit L,a: derrick D and a sweeper unit S. g

The car R mayconsist in an ordinary vgondola type of4 freight-:car and comprise a platform P having depending sides 10 and supported-by the front and-rear trucks T and T1, respectively. If desired suitable brakes may be incorporated in this structure Aand alsosuitable means for locking the car inthe position desired. y'Preferably an engineis employed for Amoving the car from place to place and also for supplying compressed air ioo and steam for operatingthe apparatus. V'The leveller yandy scraper unit is best shown in Figs. l, 5 and 7 of the drawings and may consist ina scraper plate -P which is preferably made of steel and which is disposed transversely to the rails of the track or transversely to the car.

R1 indicates the rails upon which the car R may move and T2 indicates the ties sup-v porting said rails. The scraper plate. P"

should be equal in length to the ties T2 and wing in eachV instante Vcomprisingfaninner portion 14 and an outer pontionl, respec tively. The sections 1.41 and 1 5Y are. substantially of thesamehe/ ight asthe plate P and arev properly reinforcedl by suitable marginal plates 16 which extend along the up per edge of saidV sections. Upon the lower longitudinal edge of the` plateAP there is removably secured; an L-shaped member 17 having its: portion 18 which is disposed beneath the, lower edge of the plate P of a greater thickness than its other portion. This member 17 servies as. a shoe for the plate P and may be removed. fi similar shoe or member 19 is secured to each of the sections 14: and l5 of the wings lV'. .The section. llly of each wing TW has its lower edge 2O inclined, as shown, while the-similar edge 21 of the section 15 of each wing is disposed horizontally, the purpose of this structure will later become apparent. The section 14 of each wing lV extendsl slightly forward with respect to the` plate P and. is hinged in each instance to the plate P, :as at 22. These hinges should be of such strength that they may withstand lthe strain imposed thereon during thev operation of the apparatus. The sections 15 in 'each instance are preferably integral with the sections ll. The wings lV should be so hin-ged that they may be moved to the dotted line position illustrated in Fig. 5 ofthe drawings.

The plate 'P' together with its wings lll are supported by a carriage, generally in-v dicated bythe reference character C1, and said carriage in turn being adapted lto move upon the rails R2 supportedby the platform P of .the car R.. The carriage C1 consists preferably inthe three I beams 24 which extend transversely of the car- R orv inl other words,v parallel with the.: plate P. These I beams. are Securedto ther-plateP in a rigid. marmer. andare adaptedto abut a plurality of I beams- 25. which'. are disposed vertically irrnnediately.v f o rwarfrll to: the/,platform P` of.

f saldi I.' hea-ras. adjacent, eaoh:y earl ot the.

The lower end of the plate P there is secured a pair of laterally extending roller journaling members 27,

each member 27 preferably being formed upon its outer face with an enlargement 28.

vThep'air of members 27 in each instance are adapted to engage-upon the associated rail v R2. The rails R2 inl each instance preferably consist of an Irloeam having its lower flange resting uponsuitable blocks; SQ'Wh-i'oh are properly 'securedtoI the platform;` R of the car R. 'lhe forward.- e-.Ild of eachralil-AR? is. providedl with. a downwardly extending portion 3l which; iS. disposed vertically-v and parallel with; the I-beams 25.:

The outer ends of each pair of members p' 27 are provided .with .registering openings adapted. to receivel a. pin and eachY of the rails RE .are provided with-.oneol; more; openings-through which the pins 32 may. beeX-f tended and therebyl toadjustably loclath-eleveller and scraperl unit in itsY operative pos` sition. as. best illustrated in Figs.V 5.- and By this arrangement the .I -beams 2e now abut the I-beams 25and a sol-id and sub.- stantial driving means is provided between thecarI R. and the. scraperand leveller unit. 'Upon the rear side of. the scraper plate P adjacent each side thereof there is ser: cured an l.shaped bracket plate 2.5 whichrotatably supportsat its; free, end a wheel 26. ThewheelQ/, is flanged to conform; to a railroad car wheel andk adapted to move upon either ofi the rails R1. The inner; endof the bracket 25 is preferably slotted to straddlev the associatedv Lbeams 24;. Upon the leveller andsoraperimit assuming its operative position as 'illustrated in F ig. 7. of the drawings; the wheel 26 will be, disposed upon the4 rails R and. thus further support. this unit. Upon the Soraper and leveller unit being moved tov its; operative positiony as illustrated in dotted linesin Fig.4 7 the roller 29 will be disposed upon the rails. R? and likewise-thewheels 26 and thus support this unit in its loaded position.

Upon each. sidef of the car- R and` adjacent the forward end thereof there is mount-4 eda pairl of guide membersl, whichfare adapted to slidingly accommodatea blockl 35. Between each` block 3 5 and the associ:h ated. wings lV thereV isextended a connecting rod R3. The rod terminates atl eaclla end withy a reduced and*v bifurcated portion 36. The portion isc pivotally connected at. itssolefend to; a. lug vor-stuid.35" byv a; pi n 37 and thelug is intulnpivoted tothelolook; as; shown. The outenend- .of'ct'henod Risaoonnetted. by. a; studfb'olt; 31% tof the; associatedA wing W.

The seetion; 1,5 of each; wing; W' is. con- Heetedlto: thefpl'ateP throughthemeanslot two pairs of links, each; peli-r." Cgllllllt'l the links 39 and 40. The link 39 in each instance has interposed therein a turnbuckle 4l. The links 39 and 4() are pivotally connected to each other, as at 42. The link in each instance is also pivotallyl connected to the plate P, as at 43, and the outer end of the link 39 in each instance is likewise connected to the section 15, as at 44. Upon folding the wings W inwardly the links 39 and 40i will assume the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

The leveller and scraper unit may also be provided with a ballast divider which may be employed lto an advantage when the apparatus is operating upon a curve. vThis ballast divider may consist in a plate P2 arranged centrally and vertically with respect to the plate P and disposed forwardly thereto. This plate P2 is hinged to the plate P', as at 45, for swinging movement. The lower edge of the plate P2 should. be disposed approximately as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings. A ratchet drum generally indicated at Dx mav be mounted upon one side of the plate P and from this ratchet drum there may extend a pair of ropes or cables 44 which are adapted to be equally wound upon the ratchet drum DX or equally released. Each of the cables 44 may extend beneath a sheave or pulley 46 mounted upon the forward face of the `plate P and one pulley being positioned upon Ieach side of the plate P2. The free end of each cable 44 may be connected to an eye 46 of an L- shaped link 47, said link in each instance having its free ends secured to an eye-bolt 43 occurring upon one side of the plate P2. The drum DX may be suitably connected with a crank handle 49 by which the same may be rotated in either direction. As is obvious the plate P2 may be swungeither in a right or left hand direction and held in the position desired. In the operation of the apparatus as the plate P2' is disposed parallel with the rails of the track being .op4 erated upon, then. of course, the ballast deposited between the rails will be equally divided. In case the track should make a curve then it will be necessary to shift more of the ballast to one side of the track than the other or else an uneven distribution of the ballast will result. This can be overcome by swinging the plate P2to the propery imposed upon the section 53. The section 53 is supported by the platform P of the largement 56 extending about the peripheraly edge thereof. About the casting 53 there may be positioned an annular plate-57 and about this plate there may be secured a ring gear 58, said ring gear having its teeth 59 formed about the outer periphery and having a flange 60 by which the gear may be secured to the platform P through the means of bolts or the like, as at 61.

About the boss 55 .there may be positioned a collar 62and to this collar there may be secured a plurality of spo-kes or rods 63. said rods extending radially from the collar 62 and each rod having its outer end sup-` ported by the annular plate member 57 and carrying at this last-named end a roller 58, said roller being preferably frusto-conical in shape and rotatably supported. The roller is free of the enlargement 56 of the casting 53 as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The rotatable section 54 of the turntable may consist in a circular plate casting having upon its bottom surface an annular flange 64 which is adapted 'to seat upon the upper end of the boss 55 of the casting 53. A king bolt 65 maybe extended through the platform P and' upwardly through the boss 55 and through the casting 54, thereby to turnably hold the casting 54 upon the casting 53. The casting 54 is also provided with an annular enlargement 66 aboutits peripheral edge and said enlargement occur.- ring" upon the lower side of the casting and having an inclined surface adapted to engage upon the rollers 58 and thereby cooperate withsaid rollers for supporting the section 54 for rotative movement. The casting 54 may also be provided with a downwardly turned flange 67, said flange extending from the peripheral edge of thecasting, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings and adapted to encircle the ring gear 58.

Suitable bracket members 67 are secured to the top surface of the turntable section 54 for turnably supporting a worm shaft 68. Each end o-f this shaft is provided with a crank 69 by which the same may be manually rotatable and this worm shaft in turn meshes with a worm wheel 70 which is carried. by the'rod 7l. The rod 71 is disposed vertically and journaled for rotative movement by plates 72 secured to the section 54 of the turntable and said rod has secured at its lower end a cog wheel 72 which is in `constant mesh with the ringv gear 58, as is obvious by this arrangement llO and construction. Upon rotating the worm shaft 68 rotative movement will be imparted to the cog wheel'v 72ywhich in turn will rotate= the turntable 64.` about the' kingA pin 65.

Upon the top surface of the turntable section 54 there is secured' the two pairs of L-shaped bracket platesfi', said pairsv being diametrically opposed to each other and each pair being adapted for pivotally connecting the lower end of one of the sections or legs 50 and thereby to support the derrick D for forward and rearward swing ing movement with relation. to the car R.

Then the derrick D is not being used it isV possible that the same may be permitted to rest upon a support and with this in mind l provide the supporting trame', generally indicated by the reference character F'. This frame may consist inA a U-shaped section 'comprising the two leg portions 75 and a b-ridgeportion 7 6. The U-shaped section should be inclined forwardly withk relation to the car R. and` each leg portion thereofA is braced by` a: leg structure 77. This supporting frame is of' particular value in case that the apparatus is to be moved to a considerable` distance to begin a new operation. lVith the derrick D resting upon the frame F asL illustrated inV Fig. 1V every danger of theV derrick falling is eliminated.

Upon the turntable T3 there is mounted the: two sheaves 78-79- Each sheave is preferably supported through angle plates 80 which are secured to the turntable casting 54; and also an angle plate 81'A may be employed for further supporting the sheaves 78 it so desired. Also three other sheaves or pulleys 82 may be supported upon the turntable T3 and these sheaves are preterably arranged so that their rotative axis is disposed in a vertical plane. The sheaves 82 may be supported by a substantially U- shaped plate 83 which may have its leg portions formed with extensions, as at 84', and by means of bolts or rivets may be secured upon the turntable casting 54.

For swinging the derrick D forwardly arope 85 may have its one end attached to the eye bolt 51 and then this rope may be extended downwardly and about one of the pulleys 78 as best shown in F 1 of the drawings. The rope maynow be continued, aslilewise shown, to the cab C and there properly connected to a double winding drum and then again returned and brought through the remaining pulley 79 and fromy thence upwardly and connected with the other eyebolt 52 carried by the derriclr D; The engineery in the cab C through` the means of lever bars, as indicated in Fig; 1, may operate the power'. controlling the winding drum whereby toswing the derrick` D forwardly and rearwardly.A Y

It isto be understood` tha-tI am not to be`A limited to any particular arrrangement for manipulating. thedietrich-PD, that is; for* swinging this derrick rearwardly and forwardly. pleyedf for working this derrick. The turntable, of course, is preferably rotated by means of the crank arms 69.

To the eye-screw 5,1 of the derrick D there is also attached a block and fall said block. and fall being generally indicated by the reference character 86 and this block and 'fall' is connected to each of the wings W of the leveller and scraper unitL, as at 87. A rope 87 may extend downwardly to the plat form P' of the car R so that the block and fall may be easily taken up or let out.

The scraper unit S preferably consists in a main fram-e portion or section F1 which is angular in shape and consists in the two side portions". 88 which extend from each otherv atv substantially 90 and each side portion being formed with an extension 89, said extensions 89v extending parallelE -toeach other and supporting therebetween rar plate 90. Suitable runners 91 may be pro- Any suitable means may be ein vided for the scraper unit and also braces 92 may extend between the plate 82 andthe side portions 88. Upon the plate 90 there may be mounted a cylinder, generally in` dicated by the reference character 93, said cylinder having two pistons, as at 94,` and each piston being connected to a connectingy rod 95. .A plate section 96 is secured to each portion 88 of the traine F1 and upon the forward face of the` plate section 96 lthere is positioned sweeper elements 97.

Each sweeper element 97 consists in a short section of wire rope and said elements being arranged in closely spaced relation toA each other and held apart by bolts 98 eX- tending` from the forward' face or" the plates 96. A metal strap 99 is employed for each of the plates 96 for holding the different sweeper elements 9T thereon, said straps 99 being heldin position by the bolt-s 98.

To'the free end oi each plate 96 andv associated frame member 88 there is hinged a wing W2, said wing in each instance consisting 1n a plate like body 100, which is hinged, as at'101, to the associated plate 96k ing admittedl at 1035 the' piston 911sy at this` end ofthe cylinder will be-driven inwardly and thereby moved inwardly the connect'- ing wing. W2'. The same will occur when airisf admitted: upon one'V endk oi the pipe 1051 and. upon air being admitted upon pipe ZIO/t` llt) 'the pistons will be moved to the position shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings and so held that is if the pressure is permitted to remain within the cylinder. Each wing W2 is provided with a recess 106, said recess occurring at the inner and lower edge of the wing and adapted to permit the associated rail R1 to pass therethrough.

For lifting the sweeper unit to bring the same clear of the railroad bed there is provided a cylinder, generally indicated by the reference character 106, which` is supported through the means of suitable brackets 107 mounted upon the plate P of the car R and which has its piston connected tov a rod or bar 108, said rod or bar having its lower end pivotally connected to the sweeperunit S, as at 109. Preferably connection between the rod 108 and sweeper unitv S- occurs at a pointcentrally of the sweeper unit, as shown to advantage in\Fig.-1 of the drawings. A suitable extension 108 may be connected to piston and servefor engaging the frame of derrick to hold the sweeper unit raised. l

Between the forward end of the sweeper unit there may extend one or more links 110, said links at its one end being pivotally connected to ears formed upon the sweeper unit, as at 111 and at itsv other end pivotally connected to the sides 10 of the car R, as at 112. The links 110 serve to maintain the sweeper unit in its proper position when lowered and when the car R1 is moving forwardly. Also these links permit the sweeper unit to be raised which is entirely obvious.

The operation of the present apparatus is as follows z-Assuming that suliicient ballast has been deposited between the rails Bland it is desired to level, and spread this ballast or, in other words, to dress the same, then the leveller and spreading unit should be positioned ask shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The sweeper unit should also be lowered as likewise shown inthis view of the drawings. The wings W2 of the sweeper unit are, of course, extended and should be so held. The plate section P of th-e leveller unit L will operate between the rails R1 and also a short distance upon each side thereof, this last-named distance being sufficient to cover the ends of'railroad ties T2. The section 14 of t-he wings W will operate immediately beyond the outer ends of the .ties T and the sections 15 Vof these wings will operate to gather in any ballast which may have been thrown outwardlyl a considerable distance with relation to the track and will also operate toform a straight marginal line for the ballast as the car is moved straight forward. The `ballast will be distributed betweenthe rails through the plate P and when an excess ballast exists this will be crowded over. the top of the rails R1 and distributed upon the sides'thereof through the wings W. This' operation may Vcontinue with the forward movement of the car R and .the ballast will be evenly and uniformly distributed or dressed. With the forward movement of the car R the sweeper unit S will also function to relieve 'the rails of any ballast which may collect thereon and also to sweep the ties clean of ballast or other debris. It is thought'from th-el specific construction of thisl sweeper unit that the mannerl in which the same will function is entirely apparent. It has been found that by the use of the sweeper elements shown that the cost of the upkeep of this unit is comparatively negligible-`- It is, of course, to'be assumed'that an engine is employed for moving the apparatus. Suitable pipe linesor t-he like'may be extended through said engine to the cab C so that air or steam pressure may be emv ployed .for operating the derrick Dand also the sweeper unit S. These pipesare-,of course, extended through the cylinder106 and so arranged that the sweeper unit S.

may be lifted readily and if desired 'sui-table means may be employed fo-r'lock-ing the sweeper AS kin such raised position."

` Should it be desired tov move the apparatus to another yplace for beginning operaltion or for storage then lit is neeessary'to load the combined levellerand scrapery unit L. This may be accomplished throughthe means of the derrick D. The derrickD is swung forwardly and the roper87 `manip ulated so that the cables bassociated lwith the block and fall 86 will be properly 'taken'up and then a person may` rotate 'the cran-ks 69 to swing `the derrick D inthe direction desired. I

Assuming that itis intended lto move4 the right hand wing W of the scraper' and leveller unit inwardly then, of course, the derrick would be swung in a direction for this purpose. By properly manipulating the derrick the wings W may be swung to thejdotted line position shown in Fig. 5 ofthe drawings, and then the pins 32 may be removed and the leveller unit as a whole moved rearwardly upon the tracks R2 with the rearward swinging movement offthe derrick D. When the leveller 'L has assumed its dotted line position, shown in Fig. 5, then the'fsame is loaded preparatory to moving the car R. y

Further mention should lhere be made of the divider plate P2. This plateas before mentioned is brought into operation upon operating about a bend or curvein the rail roadtrack. If this plate was permitted to remain at` right angles to the ,plate P1 as shown in Fig. 5 tthenfthe ballast wouldbe equally divided bythe plate; If such was the case when going about the curvethe lower side 'of the railroadA-would not receive suiiicient ballast to yproperly lill the same. By swinging this plate P2 in the lproper direction this disadvantage may be overcome in Van obvious manner.

Also it should b e pointed out ,that the turnbuclrles Lil may be utilized for changing the operative position of the wings WV.

lVhile I have shown and described the lpreferred yforni ot my invention it should be understood that I am aware of the tact .that the ,general arrangement and combination of parts may be changed by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as pointed out inthe appended claims.

I claim:

1. A ballast dressing apparatus comprising a running gear adapted to move upon the rails of a railroad, a plate carried by said running gear and extending transversely to said rails, the lower edge ont said plate being disposed ybeneath the level of the upper edge of said rails, said plate having a recess adjacenteach side adapted to accommodate either of Vsaid rails, and an annular wing carried upon each end ot said plate, each wing comprising van inner section and an outer section disposed at angles to VAeach other.

2. A ballast dressing apparatus ,comprising a running gear adapted to -move upon the rails of a railroad, a plate carried by said running gear and vezttending transversely jto safid rails, the lower edge of said plate being disposed beneath the level of the upper Vedge of said rails, said plate havingv a recess adjacent each side adapted to accommodate either of said rails, and an annular wing carried upon each end ot said plate, each wing comprising an inner ,section and an outer section, the outer section eX- tendjing forwardly withrelation to the inner section.

3. A ballast dressing apparatus compris .ing a running gear, a plate supported forward of said Yrunning gear equal in width Ato the ties of said railroad and having its .lower ledge disposed in close proximity to said ties and also having its lower edge -formed with a recess for each of the rails, said plate being adapted to uniformly distribute and level ballast which may be deposited between the rails with the movement of lsaid running gear, and a 'foldable wing carried at each end of said plate, said 'wing in each instance comprising an inner section disposed at an angle to the plate and an .outer section extending forwardly to the in- .nersection 4:. A ballast dressing apparatus comprising a running gear, a plate supported forward of said running gear equal in width to the ties 0f Said. yrailmadf and vhaving its loweredge disposed in close proximity to fsa-id ties also having .its lower edge formed with a recess for each of the rails, said plate being adapted to uniformly distribute and level ballast which may be deposited between the rails with the movement of said running gear, a oldable wing carried at each end of said plate, said wing in each instance comprising an inner section disposed at an angle through the plate and an outer section extending forwardly to the inner section, and foldable link means between the outer section of each wing and the plate.

5. An apparatus of the character described comprising a runninggear adapted to move upon the rails of a railroad, a plate carried by said running gear disposed transversely thereto and being substantially equal in length to thelength of the ties of said railroad, said plate having its lower edge provided with a recess through which the rails may pass, and means whereby said plate may be moved to rest upon the top of the running gear .for carrying the saine to a di-stant point.

6. An apparatus ot the character' described comprising a running gear adapted to move upon the rails of a railroad, a plate carried by said running gear disposed transversely thereto and being substantially equal in length to the length'of the ties of said railroad, said plates; having its lower edge provided with a recess through which the rails may pass, a wing provided for each end of the plates, and means whereby the plate and wings may be moved to rest upon the running gear.

7. An apparatus of the character clescribed comprising a running gear .adapted to move upon the Vrails of a railroad, a plate carried by said running gear disposed transversely thereto and being substantially equal Yin length to the 'length of the ties of said railroad, said plate having its lower edge provided Vwith .a recess through which the rails may pass, a wing lprovided for each end of the plate, and a carriage wheref by the plate and wings may be moved to gether upon the 4top of running gear` 8. An apparatus of the character described comprising a running f gear .adapted to move upon the rails of a railroad, a plate carried by said running gear disposed transversely thereto and "being substantially equal in length to the length of the ties of said railroad, said plate having its lower edge i `provided with a recess through which the rails may pass, a wing provided for each end of the plate, a carriage whereby the plate and wings ymay be moved together upon kthe top of running gear, and means whereby the wings may be folded inwardly previous to moving ythe plate and wings to the position upon the top of the running gear. f

9, An apparatus of the; character described comprising a running gear adapted to move upon the rails of a railroad, a plate extendinfr transversely to said running gear and supported thereby, said plate having its lower edge disposed in close proximity to the railroad ties, and a divided plate carried upon the forward face of the firstnamed plate and adapted to operate with the forward movement of said running' gear to divide ballast deposited between said rails previous to the moment said ballast may be operated upon by the first named plate.

10. An apparatus of the character described comprising a running gear adapted to move upon the rails of a railroad, ap-late extending transversely to said running gear and supported thereby, said plate having its lower edge disposed in close proximityto the railroad ties, a. divider plate carried upon the forward face ofthe first-named plate and adapted to operate with the forward movement of said runningrgear to divide ballast desposited between said rails previous to the moment saidvballastmay be operated upon by the first named plate, and means whereby said divided plate may be laterally swung upon a vertical pivot in either direction.

11. An apparatus ofthe character de scribed comprising a running gear adapted to move upon the rails of a railroad, a plate extending transversely to said running gear and supported thereby, said plate having its lower edge disposed in close proximity to the railroad ties, a divider plate carried upon the forward face of the first-named plate and adapted to operate with the forward movement of said running gear to divide ballast deposited between said rails previous to the moment said ballast may be operated upon by the first named plate, and means whereby said divider plate may be adjustably swung upon the pivot in either direction whereby to change the division line of the ballast deposited between the rails. f

12. A device of the character described comprising a running gear adapted to move upon the rails of a railroad, a platform supported upon said running gear, a combined leveller and` scraper unit carried by said running gear fforward thereto, said leveller and scraper unit comprising a transversely disposed plate having its lower edge disposed in close proximity to the ties of a railroad, a foldable wing upon each end of said pla-te, means whereby said wings may be folded and together with the plate moved upon the platform over said running gear, a turntable carried by said platform, a derrick mounted upon said turntable and adapted yfor forward and rearward swinging movement with relation to the running gear, means whereby said der-A 13. A device of the character described i comprising a running gear adapted to move upon the rails of a railroad, a platform supported upon said running gear, a combined leveller and scraper unit carried by said running. gear forward thereto, said leveller and scraper unit comprising a transversely disposed plate having its lower edge disposed in close proximity to theV ties of a railroad, afoldable wing upon each end offs-aid plate, means whereby said wings may be folded and together with the plate moved upon theA platform over said running gear, a turntable carried by said platform, a derricl'mounted upon said turntable and adapted for forward and rearward swinging VVmovement with` relation to the running gear, means whereby said derriclr may be connected tov the wings of said evener plate whereby with the turning movement of said turntable Vthe wings may be folded, a carriage supporting said scraper and leveller unit, and means whereby with the rearward swinging movement ofsaid derrick the scraper and evener unit may be dra-wn upon the top of the plat form.

14. In a device of the character described,

a. vehicle, a pair of rails arranged upon said vehicle, a carriage supported by the rails and adapted to be brought to a substantially vertical position at one end of the vehicle, and a scraper plate carried by the carriage.

15. In a device of the character described, a vehicle adapted to move upon a pair of rails supported upon the vehicle, a. carriage movable upon the last-named railsk and adapted to be brought to a substantially vertical position at one end of the vehicle, wheels carried by the carriage adapted to move upon the rst-named rails and thereby l support said carriage, and a scraper plate carried by said carriage.

16. In a device of the character described, a vehicle adapted to move upon a pair of i rails supported upon the vehicle, a carriage vmovable upon the last-named rails and adapted to be brought to a substantially vertical position at one end of the vehicle, wheels carried by the carriage adapted to move upon the first-named rails and thereby support said carriage, a scraper plate carried by said carriage, and co-operative means carried by the carriage and the rails upon said vehicle, whereby to prevent forward tilting movement of the carriage.

17. In an apparatus of the character described, a vehicle, a pair of rails arranged upon said vehicle at one end thereof, a carriage movable upon said rails, said rails terminating at their ends corresponding .to the associated ends ot the lvehicle in downwardly curved portions and adapted to permit the carriage to be brought to a vertical position at saidend of the vehicle, a scraper plate carried by said carriage, and a derrick carried by the vehicle and adapted to be utilized for moving said carriage upon said rails and to a position upon the Vehicle.

18. In an apparatus of the character described, a Vehicle, a pair of rails arranged upon said Vehicle at one end thereof, a carriage movable upon said rails, said rails terminating` at their ends corresponding to the associated ends of the vehicle in down- Wardly curved portions and adapted to permit the carriage to be brought to a vertical position at said end of the vehicle, a scraper plate carried by said carriage, ya 'oldable Wing carried by each end of the scraper plate, a turntable carried by the Vehicle, a derricl carried by the turntable, said derrick and turntable being adapted to be utilized for folding said Wings upon ythe scraper plate and also for moving the carriage to its position upon the Vehicle.

.19. In an apparatus of the character rde- 'plate carried by said carriage.v

20. In an apparatus ofthe character described, a vehicle, a pair of rails arranged upon said vehicle, said rails terminating at one end of the vehicle in downwardly eX- vtending portions, a carriage supported by 'said rails and adapted :to be brought `to a Vertical position `and forward 'to the lastnamed end of the Vehicle, Wheels carried by the `carriage adapted to support the same in the last-named position, a scraper plate carried by said carriage, a Wing hingedly *connected to each end othe carriage, and brace members extending betweeneach Wing Aand the vehicle, said brace members being connected whereby to permit the carriage to be f `moved from its Vertical position to a p'osition upon said vehicle.

SOLON FRANGS CLAPP; 

